Final answer:
The generic name for a light to medium weight fabric with slubs in both the warp and weft yarns is linen, known for its absorbency and coolness in hot weather.
Step-by-step explanation:
The generic name for a light to medium weight fabric in a balanced plain weave with slubs in both the warp and weft yarns is linen. Linen is derived from the fibers of the flax plant and has been cultivated since antiquity, renowned for its durability, absorbency, and comfort in hot weather.
Unlike cotton, which also has a long history of use, linen is known for its unique quality of coolness and is often heralded as the older and more luxurious of plant-based textile materials. While silk also has a storied past and a smooth, shimmering texture due to its triangular prism-like fiber structure reflecting light, it does not possess the slubs typically found in linen weaves.